Knitted fabric



L. E'. soMMERs. 2,858,685

KNITTED FABRIC Nov. 4, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1957 Nov. '4, 1958 E. SOMMERS 2,353,685

KNITTED FABRIC Filed March 7, 1957 5 Sheds-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 52/

Nov. 4, 1958 L. E. SOMMERS KNI'TTE'D' FABRIC 3 Sheeie-Sheet 3 Filed March '7, 1957 3972' omvzys.

2,858,685 KNITTED FABRIC Lyle E. $omn1ers, Appleton; Wis., assignor to Zwicker Knitting Mills, Appleton, 'Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 7," 1957, Serial No. 644,573

' 7 Claims. i (Cl. 66-469 duced by separately aflixing such ornamentation to the product. This is time consuming and expensive.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method whereby such designs may be produced as an integral part of the knitting process.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel method of knitting with a circular knitting machine wherein, at predetermined times, only a selected bank of needles performs the knitting while the remainder of the needles on the cylinder are retained in inactive position. If knitting with a minor number of needles continues for a predetermined number of courses, it results in the formation of a rope-like loop of predetermined lengthwhieh may be repeated at spaced intervals, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally, depending uponthe eifect' desired. Loops of this type may be interlaced to form novel raised designs, such as chain or cable elfects which are integral with the item; Heretofore it has been necessary to sew separately formed cables in position. In addition, these loops may be used as trim or as functional parts of gloves, mittens, hosiery, socks, caps or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved knitted article having the'integral design elfects thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improvements in the'art of knitting, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating several embodiments of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cylinder of a knitting machine such as the Brintontrick wheel scarf machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragment of apiece of knitting showing the courses and wales stretchedinto open position and in exaggerated size to show how one of the loops is formed; Y

Fig. 3 is a flattened view of a tube of knitted material suitable for forming a mitten showing a plurality of loops of the type illustrated in Fig.2 thereon;

Fig. 4 is a view looking at the back of a mitten formed from the material of Fig. 3, the loops having been interlaced in cable form to extend'longitudinally at the back of the mitten;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the back of a knitted glove showing a horizontal series of loops formed by the improved method;

Fig. 6 is a view of the back of a finished glove formed by the method of Fig.5 after the loops have been interlaced cable form; a

2,858,685 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 ice Fig. 7 is aview of the lower portion of. the back of a glove showing a single loop near the lower edge;

Fig. 8 is a backview of a finished glove formed in accordance with the method of Fig. 7 after the loop has been pulled around and throughthe fabric near its lower edge; and

' Fig. 9 is a stitch. diagram showing how the stitches are interlaced whenthree needles are used to form a loop. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improvedmethod-may be carried out on a circular knitting machine. The cylinder of Fig. 1 is the cylinder of a Brinton trick wheel scarf machine. Other open top types of circular knitting machines may be employed. The

' cylinder of Fig. lmay be used in knitting the gloves of Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. In addition, a double cylinder type of machine such as the Bentley Comet, may also be usedw Such a machine may be employed to knit mittens of the typeshown in Figs. 3. and 4. On any of these machines, however, the principle of operation is the'same.

In carrying out the improved method on a machine having a cylinderof the type shown in Fig. 1 there may be one or more feeds, two feeds being preferably used to produce the mittens of Figs. 6 and 8.

In proceeding with the improved method to make a mitten or'glove, the major portion is knit in the usual manner with a plan jersey or jacquard jersey type of knitting. Figs. 5 and 7 show plain jersey knitting at 10. When the machine comes tothe place where the ornamental loops are desired,.such as at the wrist of a mitten or glove, all of the needles 11 are held out of action, as shown in Fig. 1, except the ones which have been selected reform the loop, these being designated 11a in Fig. 1, where threeneedles are shown in knitting position. It is possible to use one or more needles, depending upon the diameter of the loop cord desired, but in any event it 'will be a minor number, and usually not more than five,

three needles are used there will be three wales E, F and G (Fig. 9) in a loop. After each course in the loop (such as the course D of Fig. 9) has been knit, then the feed cord travels around with the cylinder, a suitable spring takeup device being used to take up slack so that the feed cord crosses over behind the needle as at 15, another course in the loop being then knit. The loop 12 of Fig. 2 has twenty-four courses. This, however, could be any desired number. During each course-the cylinder 13, or other cylinder being used, makes a complete revolution, but only those needles which are in operative position such as the needles 11a operate to do knitting while a loop is being formed.

After the last course of a loop such as the loop 12 has been finished, then if it is desired to form a horizontal series of loops such as in Fig. 5, the next two or more needles in a counterclockwise direction on the cylinder- 13, such as the needles 11b, are put into operation and regular knitting is carried on, the last stitch of thepreviously formed loop being connected to the main body as at 16 in Fig. 9.

The number of additional needles put into operation dependsupon the amount of spacing desired between the loops of Fig. 5. In Fig. 5 there is a spacing of two wales between each pair of loops 12. After this spacing has beencarried out, the next three needles, such as the needles 11c, are put into operative position, and all of the other needles are retracted. Another loop is then knit with the needles 110 only. Preferably the same number of courses, such as the twenty-four heretofore mentioned, will be used in all of'the loops of a design such as Fig. 5, depending upon the length of the loop desired.

, The above procedure is repeated, with uniform spacing between the loops as shown in Fig. 5, until the desired number of loops has been formed. In the type of glove shown Fig. 5 it is desired to have five loops extending acrossthe back of the glove. These loops are interlaced one with another as shown in Fig. 6, with the last loop at the left being tacked down by hand sewing as shown at 14. This creates a chain effect which is ornamental and also tends to hold the wrist in constricted condition.

In the glove of Fig. 5, there is jersey tuck knitting as at 17 in the cuff portion below the loops. To make a single loop on a wrist such as shown in Fig. 7, the same procedure is followed except that after the single loop has been formed, all of the needles 11 are put back into operation to continue with plain jersey knitting as at 10.

In the glove of Figs. 7 and 8, the extreme lower edge has a welt edge 18. With this glove, in order to produce an attractive effect, the loop is pulled under the welt edge to the inside of the cuff and is then pulled back through the fabric just over the welt edge, as shown in Fig. 8. This creates a very neat effect and may be used as a buttonhole loop for cooperation with an ornamental button.

If it is desired to form loops which are in longitudinal alinement on the back of a tube of fabric as in Fig. 3, the same procedure is followed of first knitting with all of the needles 11 in operation until the location is reached where the first loop is to be started. Then, all of the needles'of the cylinder are retracted except the selected number, such as the three needles 11a. Continuation of the knitting then causes knitting of courses in the loop only with one course of the loop being knit for each revolution of the cylinder. If twenty-four courses are desired in the loop, then twenty-four revolutions will be made with the cylinder. Thereafter, all of the needles are put into operation, and several courses are knit with all of such needles in operation. Then the same needles which formed the first loop 19 are put into operation and all of the other needles are retracted until another loop 20 has been knit. Thereafter, all of the needles are again put into operation for a predetermined number of courses depending on the spacing desired between loops. This procedure is then continued until all of the loops 19 to 25 inclusive of Fig. 3 have been knit. Thereafter, conventional knitting is continued.

The particular mitten of Figs. 3 and 4 is knit on a double cylinder machine such as a Bentley Comet. If the row of loops on the back of a glove or mitten is to extend diagonally rather than in a straight longitudinal direction as in Fig. 3, then the needles which are to form one loop are in a shifted position on the machine with respect to the needles which formed a preceding loop so as to cause horizontal spacing of the loop in one direction or the other to obtain a diagonal effect.

The loops of Fig. 3 are interlaced one with another as shown in Fig. 4 to create a cable or chain effect in relief on the back of the mitten, the uppermost loop being tacked down manually at 26.

While the drawings illustrate several different designs which can be formed using the loops, it is obvious that various other designs may be created. It is also obvious that the loops may be advantageously used for ornamental effects on articles of apparel other than mittens and gloves.

Various other changes and adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

' from one course to another all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales, at least one course of the main fabric having a cord integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, which cord comprises only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said minor number of wales from one course in said cord toanother, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of the last course of each cord being connected back in said first-mentioned course of the fabric proper adjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is provided.

2. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales, at least one course of the main fabric having several laterally spaced cords integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, each cord comprising only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said minor number of wales from one course of the cord to another, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of each cord being connected back in the first-mentioned course of the fabric proper adjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is formed, each loop being spaced from an adjacent loop by at least one wale of the fabric.

3. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales, at least one course of the main fabric having several laterally spaced cords integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, each cord comprising only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said minor number of wales from one course of the cord to another, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of each cord being connected back in the first-mentioned course of the fabric proper adjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is formed, each loop being spaced from an adjacent loop by at least one wale of the fabric, said loops being interlaced to create a chain, and means for holding said chain against the fabric.

4. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales, a first course having a cord integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, which cord comprises only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said minor number of wales from one course to another of the cord, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of each cord being connected back in said first course of the fabric proper adjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is provided, there being a plurality of similarly formed loops spaced from each other by a selected number of courses of knitting.

5. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales, a first course having a cord integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, which cord comprises only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said minor number of wales of the cord, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of each cord being connected back in said first course of the fabric proper adjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is provided, there being a plurality of similarly formed loops spaced from each other by a selected number of courses of knitting, said loops being aligned walewise.

6. Knitted fabric comprising yarn knitted in a plurality of courses and wales,'a first course having a cord integrally connected thereto by continuous knitting, which cord comprises only a minor number of wales with the feed yarn crossing back of said'minor number of wales from one course to another of the cord, each cord including a multiplicity of courses and the last stitch of each cord being connected back in said first course of the fabric propenadjacent the start of said cord whereby an integral loop is provided, there being a plurality of simi- 5 5 larly formed loops spaced from each other by a selected said loops being interlaced to form a chain, and means number of courses of knitting, said loops being interholding said chain against the fabric. laced to create a chain, and means holding said chain against the fabric 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 7. Knitted fabric comprising yam knitted in a plurality UNITED STATES PATENTS of courses and wales, and spaced loops integral with certain courses and wales at both ends of each loop, 2,505,941 Burd May 2, 1950 

